Tile embedding machine

ABSTRACT

A tile and gravel embedding machine to operate alone along a trench bottom comprises a hopper with throat, means to direct a line of tile to bottom depth below the throat, combined with machine-controlled propelling means comprising a winch at the front of the machine with cable thereon extending for anchor ahead of the machine, the propelling means driving the winch at extremely reduced speed.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,849,998

Thacher Nov. 26, 1974 TILE EMBEDDING MACHINE 3,605,419 9/1971 Wells6l/72.5

[76] Inventor: Melvin E. Thacker, R.F.D. Rt. N0. FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 2, Leesburg, Loudoun y, 1,244,400 9/1971 Great Britain 6172.5 Lucketts, Va. 22075 22 il June 20 1973 Primary Examiner-JacobSl'lZlPlll'O Attorney, Agent, or Firm-J. Howard Flint [21] Appl No.:371,605

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 61/72.5, 61/41 A A tile n gr v l embeddingmachine to operate alone [51] Int. Cl F161 1/00, E03f 1/00 a ng a trenchbottom comprises a pp r with at, [58] Field of Search 61/72.5, 72.6,72.1, 72.2, 4 means to ir a line of tile to bottom depth below 61/72,7,63, 41 A the throat, combined with machine-controlled propelling meanscomprising a winch ut the front of the ma- [56] References Cited chinewith cable thereon extending for anchor ahead UNITED STATES PATENTS ofthe machine, the propelling means driving the 1,174,271 3/1916 Perry61/72.5 Wmch at extremely reduced Speed 3,543,522 12/1970 Torn 61/41 A 18 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures This invention relates to improvements inconstructing tile fields in the earth under strict controls governingseepage. Such situat'ons arise, for example, from enforcement of healthordinances, especially in regions where growing population densityinduces increasing inspection. Other pressures are imposed by growingawareness of ecology problems and of far-reaching pollution throughwater veins and ponds, or likewise by concentrated disposal ofagricultural wastes or of industrial disposal of chemicals. Generallythe bottom of a trench or ditch is sloped with the exactness of atransit, but corresponding exactness in placing tile and gravel togetherin the ditch has not been effected. Such are some of the considerationsinvolved in drain-fields, so-called, for gradual dispersal of septicsewage liquids by percolation into the earth on outflow from tile andgravel lines at trench bottoms. Generally, dwelling waste effluent runsfirst into septic tanks (which are anaerobic, bio-degrading collectors)from which polluting septic liquid moves slowly into the trench lines.The liquid may accumulate in the pores of the gravel bed until it oozesout and gradually seeps into the earth bottom.

The laying of tile by machinery is shown extensively in the art,including filling with gravel or the like. Some apparatus for thesepurposes has been attached to ditching machines and moved along by theditching machine. In other cases a tiling machine is pulled in an openditch by hitch from a tractor. Some proposals have been made to drivethe tiling machine one wheels. In addition, it is still a widespreadpractice for laborers to shovel the gravel on a ditch bottom, sometimesshaping something of a trough, laying the tile in that and shovelingmore gravel to cover the tile. This is expensive. Also it is inaccurateand it is awkward, for the ditch usually is narrow and often four to 6feet deep.

These various means tend to a common fault. They leave pockets andirregularities between the gravel and the tile; looseness of fill thatcan cause tile to sag or form pools of undrained liquid. Such faults areeasily overlooked or can grow because the line is soon covered withearth to the surface.

Many faults that develope in a tile field can be traced to the practiceof pulling or pushing the tile and gravel machine in a ditch by hitch tosome other machine. The controls of such other machines are usually ofgross na' ture, suitable for a powerful tractor itself or the travel ofa farm loader, and usually subject to the varying judgment and decisionsof an operator. Such are not instantly sensitive to the captive machinebeing pushed or pulled.

Pushing or pulling the tile machine by others results in irregular anderratic movements of the tile machine. A powerful pulling tractorencountering a projecting stone simply lunges through with the tilemachine following with a jerk. Or at some low spot or soft spot themachines plunge ahead; vice versa at some overly narrow passage or atsome accumulation of dirt. Though the overall travel proceeds, thesevariations of movement are adverse to the feed and placement of bothtile and gravel and especially to their correlation. Results areundetected erratic placement and lack of firmness or compactness betweenthe tile and the fill. Similar faults result if the second machineencounters slippery terrain, or a steep ground surface, or poortraction.

This invention is to provide a tile machine that will embed tile andgravel together in consistently compact correlation. A purpose is toobtain smooth action despite local irregularities even in the ditchitself, such as projecting stones, rough dirt accumulations and thelike; indeed to eliminate much of the influence of such obstacles. Afurther purpose is to provide simplicity in such a machine, to minimizeadjustments and attention of an operator; even to avoid need for anoperator for long intervals while the tile machine functions alone.Reduced labor charge enhances utility of this type of machine.

The tiling machine of this invention operates alone and is primarilyself-controlled, with constancy in respect to time interval factors.One: time interval of importance is the rate of travel of the machine ina ditch, with constancy of the rate being reflected in correlated,dependable placing of both gravel and tile along the bottom. Anothertime factor of importance is controlled variability in rate of spread ofgravel from a hop per to a firm position under and around the tile beingplaced. This effects accuracy of positioning the incoming tile in adesired even, constant slope at a point of con'joint placement of tileand gravel. Reliability in these respects is quite different from jerky,irregular time intervals of travel. The present invention provides in asimple placement machine something of a servo" self-control with respectto flow operations. What may be termed the time-displacement error ofthis machine becomes minimal, with respect to the tile and the graveljoint placement.

Various objectsand advantages of this invention are shown in anillustrative form in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an illustrative machine with sidesremoved from a frame to show an arrangement of a gravel hopper or binwith a line of tile feeding under the hopper with system self-controlmeans combined therewith to promote the machine'operations.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front end view of the same machine showing avertical relationship between tile and hopper, with a group ofmotion-control elements.

The drawings show a bin or hopper 1 having walls 27, 27' sloped frontand back to a bottom throat mounted cross-wise and centrally in a frame2 on a pair of runners 3 with upturned front ends to ride on the bottomof a ditch. A plate 26 formed to ride upon trench bottom extends onground level between the fore part of the runners, say a third or halfthe length of the machine. Metal sheet normally covers the frame sides.Supported from the frame at the front is unitary regulating andpropelling means A to control the machine, including a cable 4 attachedto anchor means 5 established at a distant point in the ditch line.Mounted at the rear of the frame is a power unit B shown as comprising asmall conventional engine 6 to operate a hydraulic (say oil) pump 7.This pump connects by conventional tubing 16 and valves to reversiblehydraulic motor 8 in the regulating means A and also to hydraulic jacks9 operative against the bottom of bin 1. Shown also in the drawings ismeans 21 to direct a tile line 10 inclined to a bottom position justback of the throat, being placed with gravel ll at the bottom of theditch. The drawing shows gravel being fed through variable cross-throat12 at the bottom of bin 1. Also shown at throat 12 is an adjustable gate13 hinged as a flap to from pump 7 to hydraulic motor 8 to hold thevalve open when gravel flows from the bin but to close the valve andstop motor 8 when the gravel bin is empty.

A preferred arrangement of the bottom throat l2 and of the tile line 10is shown in FIG. 1. The rear wall 27 of the bin at the throat issomewhat shorter with higher opening than the front wall 27', forseveral purposes. One is to provide a somewhat open throat to promotegravel discharge to the rear. This aids in lifting the valve-controlplate 13 for full flow of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor 8,together with more sensitive cut-off of that flow as the gravel outflowdiminishes. Thus close correlation is obtained between power from thepump 7 and gravel flow. The tile line 10 reaches its lowest positionjust rearwardly of throat 12 at a constant depth therefrom, by means ofcradle 21 hung by a support 21' means from bin front side 27 at throat12. Further, close correlation of the amount and height of gravel flowresults from combining this form of throat 12 with means to regulate theheight of the throat and tile above the earth bottom.

Means to regulate the throat and tile height comprises hydraulic jack 9mounted to bear against the front bottom 27 of the bin. Preferably ajack is mounted at each side of the bottom, as indicated in FIG. 2, withvalved connection from the pump 7 to raise or lower the jack. As jackmeans 9 elevates bin 1 the bin 1 would tilt except that supporting andrestraining links or arms 17 and 18 keep the bin level. Each link 17 and18 is mounted pivotally at its ends to the frame 2 and to bin 1, asshown in FIG. 1. These links are equal in length and in angle ofmounting and thus move in equal arcs, each about its own fixed center.These links by reason of their own strength and that of the (preferablymetal) bin restrain the bin to rise level (thus rise vertically over thetile) rather than to tilt under thrust by jacks 9. These factors notonly keep the throat l2 direction constant but also provide at theopposite or rear side of the bin readily accessible space for a compactarrangement of the prime mover group B.

In this invention the elements themselves may be selected from the priorart or be improvements. The machine operates through an extremespeed-reduction torque-increase system powered by a conventional smallengine, say two to five horsepower, gasoline engine, through a hydraulicsystem. The engine through this pump-motor-reducer combines to drivewinch 24 mounted over the plate 26 and with the plate distribute majorweight at the front of the machine. Preferably the speed reduction is ofthe order of about 1:150 peripheral speed of the cable on the winch tocorresponding speed of the hydraulic motor; or a range of the order ofabout 1:125 to 1:175. This may be made to amount substantially torelative rotary speeds of winch and motor. The hydraulic motor and thespeed reducer are of reversible types, acting according to appropriatevalve action in the hydraulic fluid-circulating piping 22.

The winch winds suitable wire rope 4 or the like. The remote or free endof this rope is arranged, as by hook or loop, to fasten to a convenientanchor 5 well ahead of the machine in line, whether in the ditch orahead of the ditch. This anchor may be moved ahead from time to time ifa given ditch is to be extended. The cable 4, wound on the winch duringmachine advance, is readily unwound on pulling a pin 25 in the winchaxle or some slack may be obtained by valving the fluid to reverse motor8. A ditch may be of length usual in septic drain fields, say 50 tofeet, or may be lengthened from time to time indefinitely as the machineadvances in placing tile or cable or the like.

Functioning of this machine-mounted hydraulicreduction-winch system isto provide an operating time-torque control in conjunction with a simpleprime mover source. This source may have its own throttle control,though usually this will not be called on to vary appreciably as thetiling machine operates. As the winch slowly winds the anchor cable, theadvance will be slow; that is, the space: time factor will be relativelylow. This will be as previously designed, say the order of 5 to 10 feeta minute forward. The corresponding force or torque on the winch,however, will have increased considerably because of the high reductionof speed through the hydraulic motor and pump to the prime mover. Thusif the slowly advancing machine encounters a resistance, say a stoneextending from a side wall of the ditch or the bottom, or loose dirt,the closely-pressing machine sides or bottom sheet 26 repress the stoneor clear the wall or the bottom without jerking or stalling the machineor the gravel feed. The overcoming force is available gradually asneeded as machine speed drops through the considerable reduction ratioat the hydraulic motor 8 as well as the hydraulic pump 7, and viceversa. Should an obstacle tend to impose observable change of speed inthe hydraulic motor, or in the prime mover itself, reaction of the primemover will be only small and gradual and well within usually minorultimate throttle control of the prime mover. The resulting side wallsand bottom of the ditch contacted by the tile machine will besubstantially evened. The resulting time and power components of theadvancing machine as well as of the descending gravel flow remainsteady. The gravel thus retains constant time intervals to spread itselfunder the tile beneath the throat 12 even to say a 2 foot width and thento cover the tile to desired depth, for example, 6 inches. The constancyand compactness of this conjoint placement of tile and gravel, once agiven setting is begun, are attributable to the constant and smoothspeed factor of the tile machine, as ample force or torque factor adaptsto ditch obstacles. This is in effect a selfactuated system control toprovide a practical simplified machine for one-man labor.

It may be added that this machine is readily put into a ditch fordrain-tile or cable placement, for example by pick-up chain from afront-end loader. The machine once started moves unattended. Theoperator can use his time and tractor to move gravel as needed from asupply to the gravel bin of the machine.

Other useful functions also become available. Thus the slow, steadygravel flow itself now serves as a reliable means to limit the work ofthe prime mover. If the gravel bin becomes empty, effective drive of thehydraulic motor 8 ceases, even though the prime mover continues tooperate. As already described, it is now evident that if movement of thetile machine itself were erratic or jerky and so likewise the gravelflow, then control plate 13 would fluctuate and render the prime moveror the hydraulic motor ineffective when not intended.

This invention provides conditions for constant gravity flow of fillerthrough a bottom throat and positioning in conjunction with a decliningline of tile. The combinations of controlling forces if erratic orjerky, as an outside vehicle or too rapid travel would impose, wouldleave a trail of loose pockets or shallow bedding under the finishedline of tile. These are potentially inferior seepage spots, largelyundetected and likely to grow when the ditch is filled in later. Thisinvention is to minimize matters of operator judgment and to obtainautomatically reliably compact and constant placement.

In some situations the tile must be bedded at a higher or a lowerdistance above the bottom of the ditch then in other situations. Inother words, the gravel discharge throat must be set to travel atvarious selected heights, as inspector requirements or as operatorappraisal of the ditch bottom terrain may indicate, or likewise acondition of more or less moisture in the filler or the nature of afiller such as sand. Flow of filler by this invention can meet variousdemands for firm, consistent deposit, as the conjunction of tile andgravel travel from desired heights is controlled by the jacks and thelevel control means described.

It will be evident that reference to gravel in this description andclaims likewise applies to other fillers that flow, for instance drysand, and that reference to a line of tile includes not only theillustrated continuous tile, for instance plastic, but to otherapplicable types of conduit for which various guide mechanisms are knownin the art.

1n the foregoing l have set forth my best mode of application of thisinvention, in terms of description but not of limitation. Those skilledin the art can now perceive modifications and equivalents within thescope of the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. lmprovement in a machine to operate alone for embedding a line oftile and gravel together in a trench for dispersal of polluting liquids,the machine comprising a frame and supporting means therefor to movealong the trench bottom, a hopper for gravel movably mounted foradjustment of its height within the frame and having front and rearwalls sloped to a bottom throat cross-wise of the trench centrally ofthe frame, the said supporting means comprising a bottom plate coveringand formed to ride upon the trench bottom under the front wall of thehopper, in combination with means forwardly of the throat to direct aline of tile to decline beneath the throat to a lowest bottom positionrearwardly of the throat, and in combination with means for slow, smoothadvance of the machine, comprising prime mover means mounted on theframe, a

, winch mounted on the forward end of the frame and adapted to receive acable to anchor ahead of the machine and to wind on the winch to advancethe machine, and hydraulic means operatively connected to the primemover means and to the winch to drive the winch, and means connected tothe winch to reduce the speed of advance of the machine as the cablewinds.

2. lmprovement in a machine to operate alone for embedding a line oftileand gravel in a trench for dispersal of polluting liquids, as claimed inclaim 1, in which the hydraulic means for slow, smooth advance of themachine and of the bottom plate upon the trench bottom comprises ahydraulic motor, a winch driven thereby and speed reduction means todiminish the winch speed to the order of 1:125 to 1:175 of correspondingspeed of the hydraulic motor.

3. Improvement in a machine for operating alone to embed a line of tileand gravel in a trenchfor disposal of polluting liquid, as claimed inclaim 1, having jack means supported by the frame and positioned tothrust up against the sloping front wall of the hopper and move thehopper to adjust the hopper throat height.

4. Improvement in a machine to operate alone to prepare a line of tileand gravel in a trench for disposal of polluting liquid, as claimed inclaim 3, in which the jack means is hydraulic, hydraulic meansadjustably connect the jack means to the stated prime: mover foroperation thereby, the stated hopper is mounted within the frameforheight adjustment free from direct contact with the frame, and armspivotally mounted on the frame and on the hopper to swing with thehopper and restrain the hopper in its height adjustment.

5. Improvement in a machine to operate alone to prepare a line of tileand gravel in a trench for disposal of polluting liquid, as claimed inclaim 3, in which the stated jack means and the hopper are supported onthe same side of the hopper and the hopper support comprises two arms ofequal length, each having one end pivotally mounted on the hopper andone end pivotally mounted on the frame to swing together with the hopper.

6. lmprovement in a machine to operate alone for embedding a line oftile and gravel together in a trench for dispersal of polluting liquids,comprising a frame, a gravel hopper with rearwardly open throat, a winchfor anchor cable, means to operate the winch comprising prime movermeans mounted on the frame and a control flap hinged beneath the hopperto swing up to the rear with flow of gravel from the hopper and to swingdown with lack of flow of the gravel, and means connecting the flap withthe winch operating means to stop the winch on lack of flow of gravel.

7. lmprovement in a machine to operate alone for embedding a line oftile and gravel together in a trench for dispersal of polluting liquids,the machine comprising a frame and support means therefor adapted tomove along the trench bottom, a hopper for gravel movably mounted freeof the frame for adjustment of hopper height within the frame and havingfront and rear walls sloped to a bottom throat crosswise of the trenchcentrally of the frame, and comprising means forwardly of the throat todirect a line of tile to bottom position rearwardly of the throat, incombination with lifting means supported by the frame and positioned toact upwardly on the sloping front wall of the hopper and move the hopperfree from the frame to adjust the hopper throat height from the bottomof the trench, and arms pivotally mounted on the frame and on the hopperto swing with the hopper and restrain the hopper to a substantiallyvertical path over the tile in the hopper height adjustment.

8. Improvement in a machine to operate alone for embedding a line oftile and gravel together in a trench for dispersal of polluting liquids,the machine comprising a frame and supporting means therefore to movealong the trench bottom, a hopper for gravel movably mounted foradjustment of its height within the frame and having front and rearwalls sloped to a bottom throat crosswise of the trench centrally of theframe,

frame and adapted to receive a cable to anchor ahead of the machine andto wind on the winch to advance the machine, and hydraulic meansoperatively connected to the prime mover means and to winch to drivethe-winch and means connected to the winch to reduce the speed ofadvance of the machine as the cable winds.

1. Improvement in a machine to operate alone for embedding a line oftile and gravel together in a trench for dispersal of polluting liquids,the machine comprising a frame and supporting means therefor to movealong the trench bottom, a hopper for gravel movably mounted foradjustment of its height within the frame and having front and rearwalls sloped to a bottom throat cross-wise of the trench centrally ofthe frame, the said supporting means comprising a bottom plate coveringand formed to ride upon the trench bottom under the front wall of thehopper, in combination with means forwardly of the throat to direct aline of tile to decline beneath the throat to a lowest bottom positionrearwardly of the throat, and in combination with means for slow, smoothadvance of the machine, comprising prime mover means mounted on theframe, a winch mounted on the forward end of the frame and adapted toreceive a cable to anchor ahead of the machine and to wind on the winchto advance the machine, and hydraulic means operatively connected to theprime mover means and to the winch to drive the winch, and meansconnected to the winch to reduce the speed of advance of the machine asthe cable winds.
 2. Improvement in a machine to operate alone forembedding a line of tile and gravel in a trench for dispersal ofpolluting liquids, as claimed in claim 1, in which the hydraulic meansfor slow, smooth advance of the machine and of the bottom plate upon thetrench bottom comprises a hydraulic motor, a winch driven thereby andspeed reduction means to diminish the winch speed to the order of 1:125to 1:175 of corresponding speed of the hydraulic motor.
 3. Improvementin a machine for operating alone to embed a line of tile and gravel in atrench for disposal of polluting liquid, as claimed in claim 1, havingjack means supported by the frame and positioned to thrust up againstthe sloping front wall of the hopper and move the hopper to adjust thehopper throat height.
 4. Improvement in a machine to operate alone toprepare a line of tile and gravel in a trench for disposal of pollutingliquid, as claimed in claim 3, in which the jack means is hydraulic,hydraulic means adjustably connect the jack means to the stated primemover for operation thereby, the stated hopper is mounted within theframe for height adjustment free from direct contact with the frame, andarms pivotally mounted on the frame and on the hopper to swing with thehopper and restrain the hopper in its height adjustment.
 5. Improvementin a machine to operate alone to prepare a line of tile and gravel in atrench for disposal of polluting liquid, as claimed in claim 3, in whichthe stated jack means and the hopper are supported on the same side ofthe hopper and the hopper support comprises two arms of equal length,each having one end pivotally mounted on the hopper and one endpivotally mounted on the frame to swing together with the hopper. 6.Improvement in a machine to operate alone for embedding a line of tileand gravel together in a trench for dispersal of polluting liquids,comprising a frame, a gravel hopper with rearwardly open throat, a winchfor anchor cable, means to Operate the winch comprising prime movermeans mounted on the frame and a control flap hinged beneath the hopperto swing up to the rear with flow of gravel from the hopper and to swingdown with lack of flow of the gravel, and means connecting the flap withthe winch operating means to stop the winch on lack of flow of gravel.7. Improvement in a machine to operate alone for embedding a line oftile and gravel together in a trench for dispersal of polluting liquids,the machine comprising a frame and support means therefor adapted tomove along the trench bottom, a hopper for gravel movably mounted freeof the frame for adjustment of hopper height within the frame and havingfront and rear walls sloped to a bottom throat crosswise of the trenchcentrally of the frame, and comprising means forwardly of the throat todirect a line of tile to bottom position rearwardly of the throat, incombination with lifting means supported by the frame and positioned toact upwardly on the sloping front wall of the hopper and move the hopperfree from the frame to adjust the hopper throat height from the bottomof the trench, and arms pivotally mounted on the frame and on the hopperto swing with the hopper and restrain the hopper to a substantiallyvertical path over the tile in the hopper height adjustment. 8.Improvement in a machine to operate alone for embedding a line of tileand gravel together in a trench for dispersal of polluting liquids, themachine comprising a frame and supporting means therefore to move alongthe trench bottom, a hopper for gravel movably mounted for adjustment ofits height within the frame and having front and rear walls sloped to abottom throat cross-wise of the trench centrally of the frame, the saidsupporting means comprising a bottom plate covering and formed to rideupon the trench bottom under the front wall of the hopper, incombination with means forwardly of the throat to direct a line of tileto bottom position rearwardly of the throat, and in combination withmeans for slow, smooth advance of the machine, comprising prime movermeans mounted on the frame, a winch mounted on the forward end of theframe and adapted to receive a cable to anchor ahead of the machine andto wind on the winch to advance the machine, and hydraulic meansoperatively connected to the prime mover means and to the winch to drivethe winch and means connected to the winch to reduce the speed ofadvance of the machine as the cable winds.